sm fish go missing / turn up dead

autrey · 08/17/2006, 06:46 AM

ok,
I have kept reefs for over 15 years and have never really had any issues with loosing the fish I have placed in tanks until now. The typical scenario goes within 14 days the new fish simply disapear. The water chemistry is ok. I have not observed any preditors. The established inhabitants are a marron clown about 4.5 inches, a tang (koli sp?). 3 large brittle stars. I just added a randles gobie w/ shrimp, and three blue chromis. I came home yesterday to find two chromis dead /missing; one missing and one in the sump dead. They have been fine in the tank for about 2 weeks. They were also fine the 2 days ago. I realize its kind of a hard question. I just don't know what happening at night that would cause the loss or disapearance of the fish. and am looking for any insights I could get. Thanks.

Bippus · 08/17/2006, 06:56 AM

Is your ph dropping at night maybe?

TheMcs · 08/17/2006, 07:57 AM

Verify the species of your brittle stars, some are notorious for snagging little fish at night.

evilelvis · 08/17/2006, 08:02 AM

I had the same problem, perfect water (0 across the board) ph around 8.1 and any new additions swim around look fine, eat, then just vanish. It even happened to an arrow crab that just crawled behind a rock one day and vanished. Now what is REALLY freaking me out is that I occasionally hear a clicking sound but as soon as I go to investigate it stops...and it's maybe once to twice a week. I don't think it's a mantis since all my original fish and crabs and everything are 100% ok.

Bill

jcgso · 08/17/2006, 08:06 AM

I'd have to vote for the brittle stars. I had the same problem with samller fish suddenly vanishing. After my brittle died it never happened again.

reefchiquita · 08/17/2006, 09:54 AM

Do you have a serpent brittle starfish? Exact same thing was happening to me. I had a large brittle starfish. I added several baby chromis, one would got MIA every couple days and always at night. They looked great during the day, swimming and eating well. One night after the lights had been out for a while in the tank, I turned on a room light, and quickly looked inside the tank and saw my serpent starfish propped against the back wall of my tank, within 1cm reach of getting at a scared chromis! His leg was flailing so hard to try and reach it!! Well he went back to the lfs, and my school of chromis have yet to go MIA again....give it a try and see what he does at night!

08/17/2006, 06:46 AM	#1
autrey Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 8	sm fish go missing / turn up dead ok, I have kept reefs for over 15 years and have never really had any issues with loosing the fish I have placed in tanks until now. The typical scenario goes within 14 days the new fish simply disapear. The water chemistry is ok. I have not observed any preditors. The established inhabitants are a marron clown about 4.5 inches, a tang (koli sp?). 3 large brittle stars. I just added a randles gobie w/ shrimp, and three blue chromis. I came home yesterday to find two chromis dead /missing; one missing and one in the sump dead. They have been fine in the tank for about 2 weeks. They were also fine the 2 days ago. I realize its kind of a hard question. I just don't know what happening at night that would cause the loss or disapearance of the fish. and am looking for any insights I could get. Thanks.

08/17/2006, 06:56 AM	#2
Bippus Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 201	Is your ph dropping at night maybe? __________________ -Dustin Current Tank Info: 75 gal - 135 In the works (STILL!!)

08/17/2006, 07:57 AM	#3
TheMcs Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,272	Verify the species of your brittle stars, some are notorious for snagging little fish at night. __________________ Evaporation and top off don't count as water changes... Current Tank Info: 185g Deep Sea display, 2x 40g frag tanks, 90g fuge, 60g sump (400+ gal system)

08/17/2006, 08:02 AM	#4
evilelvis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 71	I had the same problem, perfect water (0 across the board) ph around 8.1 and any new additions swim around look fine, eat, then just vanish. It even happened to an arrow crab that just crawled behind a rock one day and vanished. Now what is REALLY freaking me out is that I occasionally hear a clicking sound but as soon as I go to investigate it stops...and it's maybe once to twice a week. I don't think it's a mantis since all my original fish and crabs and everything are 100% ok. Bill __________________ 40g cube reef

08/17/2006, 08:06 AM	#5
jcgso Saltwater Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 547	I'd have to vote for the brittle stars. I had the same problem with samller fish suddenly vanishing. After my brittle died it never happened again. __________________ Well dear, it was free...almost...sorta...kind of...I'm sorry, I'll never spend another penny on my tanks again...this week. Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL reef

08/17/2006, 09:54 AM	#6
reefchiquita Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 114	Do you have a serpent brittle starfish? Exact same thing was happening to me. I had a large brittle starfish. I added several baby chromis, one would got MIA every couple days and always at night. They looked great during the day, swimming and eating well. One night after the lights had been out for a while in the tank, I turned on a room light, and quickly looked inside the tank and saw my serpent starfish propped against the back wall of my tank, within 1cm reach of getting at a scared chromis! His leg was flailing so hard to try and reach it!! Well he went back to the lfs, and my school of chromis have yet to go MIA again....give it a try and see what he does at night!